The investigation was launched in March of 2017 with the help of the Strathcona County RCMP. Police shared information with ALERT that the Barbero Barbershop in Sherwood Park was involved in cocaine trafficking. It has since closed.

Search warrants were executed on five homes. One of the homes in Edmonton is believed to have been used to package and press cocaine for street-level sales.

ALERT alleged the cocaine trafficking network was operated under the direction of Ali Elamki, 27, and Mohamed Torbeih, 33. The two Edmonton men are facing a number of charges including committing an indictable offence for the benefit of a criminal organization.

Ryan Jones, 21, Sidney Chudek, 21, and 30-year-old Ismail Hajar, all from Edmonton, were arrested. Two men from Fort McMurray, Mohamed Torbeih, 29, and Jamil Razian, 33, were also arrested for various roles within the criminal network.

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